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HDTV Buying Guide

Less than a decade ago, an HDTV was considered a high-end luxury item. Today, their prices have dropped considerably, making them affordable for most consumers.

Over the past several years, HDTVs have changed. Less than a decade ago, an HDTV was considered a high-end luxury item. Today, their prices have dropped considerably, making them affordable for most consumers. Still, before purchasing one, it's important to take the time to understand just what to look for.

Today’s televisions come packed with a variety of features that make them far more versatile than ever before and HDTVs are no different. Many can connect to the Internet to take advantage of services like Netflix. Others include playback support for video, music, and still images. Selecting the ideal set is a simple matter of understanding just what it is each set provides.

LED, OLED, and 4K- Oh my!

The first step of the selection process is deciding what type of HDTV to buy, but picking the right HDTV for you can be overwhelming. Here's a quick cheat sheet to see which type of TV will meet your needs.

In the past LCD and Plasma were must-have HDTV types, but they've since been replaced by LED, OLED, and 4K models.

LED TVs, or light-emitting diode TVs, offer excellent picture quality in any type of lighting and boast a thin profile for easy placement within a room.

OLED TVs, or organic light-emitting diode TVs, deliver a superior picture with great contrast and wide viewing angles. If you're looking for a TV with an accurate, colorful, and blur-free image, this is the model for you. Best of all, they come with an extremely thin screen and can fit anywhere in a room.

4K Ultra HDTVs are the latest and greatest thing on the market, delivering a fully immersive experience. 4K TVs deliver up to four times the resolution of a 1080p TV and offer sharp and detailed images. This is the TV to purchase if you're looking for lifelike images.

Features Impact Cost

One of the biggest issues faced by consumers interested in purchasing an HDTV or 4K TV is the cost. There are several factors that impact the overall price of a unit.

Size – It's common sense. The bigger the set, the bigger the price tag. You can snag some smaller HDTVs on Black Friday for around $100, while you could be shelling out a few thousand for a bigger TV.

Refresh Rate – The higher the hertz, the better picture - and the higher the price tag. A TV with a refresh rate of 120Hz will refresh its picture 120 times in one second, while a 60Hz model will refresh 60 times.

Resolution – Finally, consider the resolution of the set. The technicality surrounding screen resolution takes an advanced degree in computer sciences to understand, but for the average consumer, there is one thing to know: a resolution of 1080p is the best for an HDTV (and you can get 2160p with a 4K TV).

The HDTV Is Bought ... Now What?

Once you buy an HDTV, the next step is installation. The truth is, spending the extra money on installation is almost always a good idea, especially for those who want to have the set mounted. It also makes sense to spend the money on quality cables. The market has many sub-par or generic cables, so it's always a good idea to buy cables designed for a specific set. Retailers can guide you towards the best cables for your needs.

Making the decision to buy an HDTV is a big one. Take the time to research all available options and to understand which features are necessary - and which features will just drive the price up. To find the best price, check out Black Friday ads.

Created May 24, 2018, last updated November 15, 2018

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